The Exit: Home for an Island [reissue]Home for an Island [reissue] (2005)Windup Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: simonsimon(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on October 21st 2005The Exit have already released this album. I enjoyed the initial release quite a bit, and was surprised that they didn't.
The band decided to re-record the album in order to get more of a live feel. As instruments go, they succeeded. Effects are featured less prominently on this version, and the .

The Exit have already released this album. I enjoyed the initial release quite a bit, and was surprised that they didn't.

The band decided to re-record the album in order to get more of a live feel. As instruments go, they succeeded. Effects are featured less prominently on this version, and the overall sound has much more of a raw quality to it. Vocally, they were less successful. I can't say that the vocals are any more produced, but I don't find them to be any less produced either; they simply sound...different.

In the initial release, there were 10 tracks, and for the new release they removed one of the original tracks and added three new ones. The song "Italy" was cut this time around, and I can't say that I mind a whole lot. It was not a standout track by any means, and I was hoping that the new tracks would fill its shoes and more. "Warm Summer Days" is a huge failure. It seems to meander around trying to find itself, and never comes close to succeeding. "Pressure Cooker" comes closer with its upbeat sound, but still falls short of what the band is capable of producing. "The Sun Will Rise in Queens" is the best of the three new songs. It takes a while to get going, but eventually it finds a groove and the second half of the song is the only solid new offering from the band.

Standout tracks from the original album were "Already Gone" and "Soldier," and surprisingly, these two songs received the least amount of treatment on the new album. "Don't Push" and "Tell Me All Again" really benefit from the new sound, and are much improved over their original versions. "So Leave Then" was the odd song out on the last album with its steel drums coming out of nowhere and leaving just as quickly. The drums are still there, but are now joined by a saxophone, continuing the trend of setting this song apart from the others.

My largest complaint comes from the album packaging. The booklet is nearly identical to the original release, the only changes coming with the lyrics for the new songs, obviously. I'm not asking for a revolution in CD packaging here, but something new would have been nice.

Overall, I like the newer sound on this album. The re-recorded tracks as a whole sound better, and I think the band succeeded in creating a better record. I just wish they had used it to make some new songs that weren't as bad.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon
sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (May 7, 2006)

I think Pressure Cooker is an awesome song. I loved the old version of this album and I think this one is an improvement in almost every way.

Anonymous (November 12, 2005)

Yes I noticed the photo on the wall. I think that was the point. I know many people who also have noticed that. You are suppoed to notice it if you look close enough at the cover. You are not strange.

Anonymous (October 27, 2005)

This review/reviewer sucks! The Exit rock, and so does the reissue of thier cd!! Have a nice "Punk Rock" day!!!

Anonymous (October 23, 2005)

I never heard this album just thought they were pretty good live. Got boring after the first four songs but still not that bad of an opener

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

p.s. hey wyzo

go suck a dick

your name is not creative and everyone has effectively forgotten about WIZO

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

they sound like the police

deal with the fact that shitty labels like victory are just that, shit.

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

"Anyone would be an idiot not to pick this up. This band blows away mostly everything you are listening to right now."

I love when people write shit like this....like they have any idea what your listening to, or what you generally listen to.

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

1, since im the only person ive met whose noticed this, look at the cover photo, remember the faces, gestures, and layout of the shot. Now look at the photo hanging on the wall in the cover photo. See? eh? If anyone else noticed this without being told, let me know, I'd like to know I'm not strange.

2, this is a stupid move by a band who had a good promising career. I LOVE Home for an Island, but will never listen to this version, nor want to, and in fact, I am more than a little bugged as a fan of that album that they would have even thought this idea was practical much less progress.

I think this is a mistake.
It's like greedo shooting first.
A remake that will eclipse what was a memorable album, and for me, a personal favorite.

The album Home for an Island, with Italy on it, is an album worth checking out.